Is the safety of religious figures truly under siege in a world grappling with rising crime and unrest? Recent events suggest a disturbing trend: an alarming increase in the kidnapping and targeting of clergy members across various regions, especially within Nigeria and South Africa.

The tranquility of religious life has been shattered by a wave of violence. Father Thomas Oyode was kidnapped around 7 p.m. on December 27 during evening prayers and benediction at the seminary, underscoring the vulnerability of these sacred spaces. In another incident, Father Philip Ekeli and Seminarian Peter Andrew were captured by armed men who stormed the Catholic Church of St. Peter in the parish of Iviukwa, Edo State, southern Nigeria, late on Sunday evening, March 2, around 11:30 p.m. Further highlighting the issue, a priest from the diocese of Okigwe in Nigeria was kidnapped on November 30 while en route to administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to a parishioner.